Stormwater Quality for Building and Remodeling

Best management practices

Thank you for taking the time to review and apply Best Management Practices (BMP) for stormwater quality in our community.

Through education and steadfast improvements, we can protect our rivers and preserve our local fish and wildlife.

Sediment is the biggest pollutant of concern during construction due to the removal of soil cover.
Heavy metals and nutrients attach to soil particles that can wash to the storm drain and severely degrade water quality.
Sediment is known to smother fish and active spawning areas, lead to dredging costs from excess material and contribute to flooding problems as a result of decreased channel capacity.
In addition to sediment, there are many other pollutants during a construction project, including chemicals, paint, mortar and trash.

Minimize removal of existing vegetation.
Divert runoff around disturbed soils.
Reduce traffic on disturbed soils.
Request contractors park on paved areas whenever possible.
Revegetate as soon as possible using native seed mix, mulch and tackifier.
Frequently sweep streets and sidewalks of soil back onto the site.
Construct a gravel stabilized site access.
Sweep paved surfaces, rather than hosing down or using blowers.
Use sediment control devices including silt fence, inlet protection, sediment basins, diversion ditches, and swales to minimize soil that leaves the site.

Properly store and dispose of materials such as paints and solvents.
Properly contain and dispose of wash water, sweepings and sediments.
Use non-toxic substitutes for chemicals when possible.
Inspect vehicles and equipment for leaks regularly and fix problems as soon as possible.
Keep a cleanup kit of safety equipment and absorbent material, such as kitty litter or sand, in case a spill does occur. Never hose down an area to clean up after a spill.
Control litter by sweeping and picking up trash on a regular basis.
Cover dumpsters and replace leaking ones.